Artists From Around The Globe Converge On Long Beach For Pow! Wow! Festival

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Artists from around the world are converging on Long Beach for what is billed as the Pow! Wow! Art Festival.

The artists have arrived to celebrate Long Beach’s first summer-long art fest. The show originated in Honolulu.

CBS2’s Stephanie Simmons got a festival preview on Friday.

“I wanted to do something on this wall that touched a little bit on my roots,” says artist Greg Simkins.

This artist, who lives in Torrance, has been painting graffiti murals since 1992. For his latest work, he’s taking his art indoors.

His piece is called “Don’t Bury Me.”

Simkins, with his wall filled with creatures and critters, is one of 20 artists — many of them world-recognized) taking part in the show. They’re joining forces with the Long Beach Museum of Art.

“It’s wonderful to see the power of what public art can do and I think that people who paint on this scale are just mesmerizing,” said Ron Nelson of the Long Beach Museum of Art (2300 E Ocean Blvd Long Beach, CA, 90803).

The theme for this year’s show is “Vitality and Verve: Transforming the Urban Landscape.”

“This piece ‘going going gone’ has to do with living in the moment, and for me this is a big moment in my career, and I’d like to take advantage of it before it’s gone,” says artist Alex Yanes.

The other pieces range from surfer girls to fantastical beasts and even magical places.

The mostly-indoor event has broad appeal — literally. Some murals are painted across the city of Long Beach.

As for how to take in the art, Simkins says it’s all open to interpretation.

“I want them to enjoy it like they’re watching a show and try to create a story for themselves,” Simkins says.